Hanger clip

ABSTRACT

A HANGER CLIP COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND MATING PORTIONS HAVING OVERLAPPING SLOT AND PLATE COMPONENTS WHICH ARE RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LOWER FLANGE OF A BEAM AND AXIALLY MOVED TOWARD EACH OTHER FOR ABUTTING FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO PROVIDE A RESULTANT ATTACHMENT OF THE CLIP TO THE BEAM PURELY BY MANUAL MANIPULATION WITH THE COMPONENTS BEING FRICTIONALLY HELD IN POSITION TO BE RETAINED ON THE BEAM.

NOV. 9,, 197 c, L, BARNES 3,618,176

HANGERCLIP Filed Oct. 1, 1970 INVENTOR eumc L. BARNES BY 0 u/wii b @wmmcATTORNEYS 3,618,176 HANGER lClLlllP Cedric lL. Barnes, 2753 Fort ScottDrive, Arlington, Va. 22202 Filed Oct. 1, 1970, Ser. No. 77,200 Int. Cl.A44b 13/00; E041) /52; B42f 13/00 ILS. (ll. 24-84- 9 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A hanger clip comprising first and second mating portionshaving overlapping slot and plate components which are respectivelypositioned on opposite sides of the lower flange of a beam and axiallymoved toward each other for abutting frictional engagement to provide aresultant attachment of the clip to the beam purely by manualmanipulation with the components being frictionally held in position tobe retained on the beam.

This invention is in the field of hanger type support elements and isspecifically directed to a hanger type clip of the type connectable tothe lower flange of a horizontally extending beam member.

Even more specifically, the subject invention is directed to a device ofparticular utility in connection to inverted T-section beams of the typenormally employed for supporting ceiling type acoustical tiles.

The invention is of particular utility as a commercial display hangerfor supporting displayed merchandise.

Previously known fasteners for use with the support beam of a suspendedceiling structure have not proven to be satisfactory for a variety ofreasons. Specifically, many of the previously known constructions havebeen of complex construction which renders them expensive to fabricateand difficult to install. Difliculty of installation is one of the primeprobems with many of the previously known devices such as those whichhave employed portions which must be bent, connected by screws or thelike for retention on the supporting beam.

Other known conventional hanger constructions have not provided areliable connection to the supporting beam and have consequently provento be unsatisfactory for use in location-s in which such features arenot integral.

Additionally, a number of the prior known support clip devices haverequired extensive manual manipulations for attachment to the supportingbeam and, in fact, frequently cannot be connected by a single person.

The aforementioned difficulties of the prior known hanger clipconstructions has consequently resulted in the use of many makeshiftdevices employing wire, cords or the like tied or bent to the supportingflanges of the ceiling tile for providing display support of items suchas lamps or the like in merchandising areas. Resort to such makeshiftarrangements is resultant from the many inadequacies, high cost and thelike of the presently known hanger constructions.

Therefore, there has been a continuing need for a new and improvedhanger member construction which would be economical to fabricate, easyto install and maintain, reliable in use and requiring no tools orspecial components for installation. This invention meets these needs.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a newand improved hanger construction for use with the horizontal flanges ofsupport beams.

The manner in which the subject invention obtains the object of thisinvention will be better understood when the following writtendescription is read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

States aten FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment as employed in one mode of operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the preferred embodiment as viewedfrom the left in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another mode of operation ofthe preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 asassembled in FIG. 4.

Attention is initially invited to FIG. 1 which illustrates the preferredembodiment 20 of the invention associated with a horizontal beam 22 ofthe type normally employed for supporting acoustical ceiling tile on itslower flange 24. The lower flange 24 forming the base portion of theT-shaped cross section of flange 24 provides support for the hanger clip20 in a manner to be made obvious hereinafter.

Hanger clip 20 is formed of a righthand clip component 26 and a lefthandclip component 26 each of which cooperates with the other to provide theresultant clip member 20.

Righthand clip component 26 has a forward edge 28 and a rearward edge 30which define the width dimen sion of the component in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 1. The width dimension is parallel to the axis ofthe beam 22 on which the components are connected for support.

Connection of the righthand clip component 26 to the beam is enabled bymeans of a horizontal lower flange abutting plate 34 and an upper flangeabutting plate 36 which are connected by a bent outer edge connectorportion 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, the horizontal lower flangeabutting plate 34', the upper flange abuting plate 36 and the bent outeredge connector portion 38 embracingly engage the right side of the lowerflange 24 of beam 22 as shown in FIG. 3.

The edge of the horizontal lower flange abutting plate 34 opposite thebent outer edge connector portion 38 is connected by means of an innerconnector portion 40 to a downwardly extending vertical hanger plate 42.The vertical hanger plate 42 is provided with an object receivinghanging recess opening 44 extending inwardly from the forward edge 28.

It should be noted that the inner connector portion 40 extends inwardlyfrom the rearward edge 30 and terminates approximately midway of thewidth dimension 34 of the clip component 26 so as to define a slot 46extending inwardly from the forward edge 28 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and4.

The lefthand clip component 26' illustrated in FIG. 1 is identical tothe righthand clip component '26 in most respects and the correspondingportions of the lefthand clip component corresponding with similarportions or elements of the righthand clip component have been given thesame designators which have been primed. Therefore, the lefthand clipcomponent includes a forward edge 2.8-, a rearward edge 30' and ahorizontal lower flange abutting plate 34. Similarly, an upper flangeabutting plate 36 is connected to the lower flange abutting plate 34' bymeans of a bent outer edge connector portion 38'. A ver tical hangerplate 42' extends downwardly by means of an inner connector portion 40and is provided with a slot 46' in a manner analogous to theconstruction of the righthand clip component 26 as discussed previously.

However, it should be noted that the lefthand clip component includes aslot 46' which extends inwardly from the rearward edge 30" of the clipcomponent rather than from the forward edge 28" in the manner of therighthand clip component 26. Consequently, the inner connector portion40' of the lefthand clip component 26' extends inwardly from the forwardedge 28 of the lefthand clip component and terminates at a point closelyadjacent the middle portion of the width dimension 34 as shown.

The righthand clip component and lefthand clip component are connectedto the flange 22 by initially positioning the components in the axiallyspaced manner shown in FIG. 1 and then moving the components toward eachother so that the inner connector portion 40 of the righthand clipcomponent 26 is received within the slot 46' of the lefthand clipcomponent .26. Similarly, the inner connector portion 4'0 of thelefthand component 26' is received within the slot 46 of the righthandclip component 26. Consequently, the vertical hanger plate 42 of therighthand clip component 26 is positioned to the left of the verticalhanger plate 42 of the lefthand clip component 26 when the two componentparts are moved to the assembled position of FIGS. 1 and 3.

This inventive construction results in frictional engagement between thevertical hanger plates which is all the more enhanced upon a supporteditem being inserted in the slots 44 and 44' which are in alignment asshown.

It should be noted that the flange engaging component 36, 34 alsoprovides for frictional retention of the parts in their assembledpositions. When assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, theparts provide a clear hanging opening comprised of aligned openings 44and 44' into which any items such as lamps, signs or practically anyother item can be supported by a vertical cord of wire or other suitableflexible or rigid support member.

In another mode of assembly, two identical clip components, eitheridentical righthand components or identical lefthand components, can beassembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the slots 44extending inwardly are not in complete alignment with each other.Consequently, only the inner circular open portions 50 are in alignmentand a circular support opening is consequently provided. This circularsupport opening is of particular value in receiving and supporting rodmembers such as curtain rods or the like.

The subject invention is extremely versatile and it can be used forsupporting practically any type object. Moreover, the invention iseasily connected to the supporting beam by a simple manual manipulationrequiring absolutely no tools. Numerous modifications of the inventionwill occur to those skilled in the art and it should be understood thatthe spirit and scope of the invention should be limited solely by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger clip for attachment to the lower horizontal flange of a beammember, said clip comprising a righthand clip component and a lefthandclip component, each of said clip components having a forward edge and arearward edge defining a width dimension parallel to the axis of thebeam member, a vertically extending hanger plate extending downwardlyfrom a horizontal lower flange abutting plate and having an uppertermination and a lower termination, said horizontal lower flangeabutting plate extending outwardly in a generally perpendiculardirection from one side of the upper termination of said hanger plateand terminating at an outer edge in a bent outer edge connector portion,an upper flange abutting plate extending inwardly from said bent edgeconnector portion in a plane substantially parallel to said lower flangeabutting plate with said upper flange abutting plate being spaced fromsaid lower flange abutting plate a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the horizontal flange of the beam to which the hanger clipis attached, an inner connector portion extending from the forward edgeof said righthand clip component for a substantial distance andconnecting the vertically extending hanger plate of said righthand clipcomponent to the lower flange abutting plate of said righthand clipcomponent but terminating forwardly of the rearward edge of the hangerplate of said righthand clip component whereby a slot is defined betweenthe lower flange abutting plate and the vertical hanger plate of saidrighthand clip component for the rearward portion of the width of saidcomponent atthe upper edge of said vertical hanger plate, an innerconnector portion extending from the rearward edge of said lefthand clipcomponent for a substantial distance and connecting the verticallyextending hanger plate of said lefthand clip component to the lowerflange abutting plate of said lefthand clip component but terminatingrearwardly of the forward edge of the hanger plate of said lefthand clipcomponent whereby a slot is defined between the lower flange abuttingplate and the vertical hanger plate of said lefthand clip component forthe forward portion of the width of said lefthand clip component at theupper edge of said vertical hanger plate of said lefthand clip componentwhereby said righthand clip component and said lefthand clip componentcan be positioned in axially spaced relationship adjacent each other onthe horizontal flange of said beam and moved toward each other so thatthe inner connector portion of said righthand clip component is receivedin the slot of said lefthand clip component and the inner connectorportion of said lefthand clip component and said hanger platesfrictionally engage each other to provide a resultant fixed attachmentof said hanger clip to said horizontal flange of the beam andcooperating recess means in said hanger plates for receiving an objectto be hung from said hanger clip.

2.. The invention of claim 1 wherein said clip components are formed ofa unitary metal plate construction.

3. The invention of claim '2 wherein said cooperating recess means insaid vertically extending hanger plates defines a hook portion having aninner edge defined by an aperture extending inwardly from said forwardedge of said hanger plates.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein two of said righthand clipcomponents or two of said lefthand clip components can be clippedtogether so that the inwardly extending openings from the forward edgeof said hanger plates are not in alignment and the innermost extent ofsaid openings are in alignment to define a generally circular openingthrough which a rod can be suspended.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said cooperating recess means insaid vertically extending hanger plates defines a hook portion having aninner edge defined by an aperture extending inwardly from said forwardedge of said hanger plates.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein two of said righthand clipcomponents or two of said lefthand clip components can be clippedtogether so that the inwardly extending openings from the forward edgeof said hanger plates are not in alignment and the innermost extent ofsaid openings are in alignment to define a generally circular openingthrough which a rod or the like can be suspended.

7. A hanger clip comprising a plate member having a forward edge and arearward edge defining a width dimension, a horizontally extending lowerflange abutting plate adapted to engage the lower surface of ahorizontal flange of a supporting beam member, an upper flange abuttingplate connected unitarily by a bent edge portion to said lower flangeabutting plate for engaging the upper surface of a portion of thehorizontal flange of said beam, a vertically extending hanger platehaving an object receiving hanging recess opening and extendingdownwardly from the edge of said lower flange abutting plate oppositethe bent edge connector portion in a plane substantially perpendicularto said lower flange abutting plate with said vertically extendinghanger plate being connected to said edge of said lower flange abuttingplate by an inner connector portion extending from the forward edge ofsaid clip a substantial distance but terminating forwardly of therearward edge to define a slot between the rearmost portion of the upperedge of said hanger plate and said lower flange abutting plate wherebytwo of said clip components can be mated otgether with their respectiveinner connector portions being received in the slot of the other clipcomponent with said hanging recess openings in said hanger platescooperating to define a closed supporting aperture in which a rod orother supported member can be inserted.

"8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said plate member is of metalconstruction.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said object receiving hanging recessopening defines a hook portion having 1 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,327,981 1/1920 Bruns 248228 5 2,318,092 5/1943 Olsen 52-4843,029,055 4/ 1962 Smith 248-228 PAUL R. GILLIAM, Primary Examiner 0 US.Cl. X.R. 52-484, 714; 248--61, 301, 343

